Our last unit required us to choose a problem that we saw effecting others around us and ourselves whether it was as big as something like depression or as small as not having a pencil during class. Last week we researched what others have done to solve the problem and how we could solve it ourselves. After we made a solution we created some kind of prototype to show our thinking. We also tested them to see how they worked. Some "inventions" students made include modified phone chargers, pamphlets to help kids with depression and self help, hair tie holders, and many more. One solution, a table which included phone numbers for self help, stress relieving toys, positive thought jars, books, and candy was such a well thought out solution to stress and other personal problems in school we were aloud to put in the counseling office so students could actually use it. Throughout the unit we learned how we could use the design cycle (something we use for all our projects) to solve many problems we all face. In the design cycle we learn to investigate, design, create, and evaluate.

From Ellie -

This week has been a very eventful week in class. We talked about creating products and everyone made their own products to help their own, community, and/or world problems.

Everyone presented their final products to the class. Some people's inventions solved personal problems like the pictures below.

"Ponytail Holder" (Holds hair rubberbands and slides into front of a student binder)

"Dewobbler" (inserted under a table leg to keep tables level)

After going through the whole class, we finished the week by watching "Shark Tank." "Shark Tank" is a show where inventors show their products to investors. The investors then choose if they want to invest in the product or not. This is relevant to us because we are trying to solve problems just lik the people on shark tank do.